Page 73 of Hogging the Hunk

“I’m serious, you two. I’ll call Clint and report you.” Ellie planted her fists on her hips, her disgust underscored with a matronly frown.

“She’s right.” Weaving my fingers into Milo’s hair, I stared into his chestnut eyes, seeing deep into his soul and feeling reassured that he loved me every bit as much as he said he did. “We should stop.”

“Fine.” Milo stole one more kiss. “I’ll refrain for her sake.”

“How about we finish our lovely picnic, then we can get started?” I suggested.

“Started? With what?” Milo furrowed his brow, unsure of my intentions.

“We have a wedding to plan.”

Series Epiloge

Beckett

“Is everyone here?” Milo whispered into my ear.

His breath made the tiny hairs on my neck stand at attention, and I leaned backward into him. Without asking, he settled his arms on my hips and swayed gently. I closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them I tried to soak up everything in this moment. We were on the brink of the next big phase of our lives. It hit me, though, that I could have happily existed in his arms, rocking under the shade of a sycamore while all our family and friends gathered. They thought I’d been in the mood for a spring cookout before temperatures became sweltering for the summer.

No one suspected I was about to surprise them with a wedding.

I scanned the barn, and beyond to the lawn outside. There weren’t nearly as many people as were invited to our annual Christmas party, though the farm was busy with activity. So many people Milo and I loved in one place.

Aiming my mouth at Milo’s ear, I answered, “It looks like it.”

“Good. And you’re sure about this?”

Rolling myself over without breaking his hold on me, I faced Milo. I held his face in my hands, running my thumbs across the beard he’d been growing. I liked the look on him. “It might have taken me a while to figure out what my own happily-ever-after would look like. Since I have, the checklist I was trying to tick off changed.”

“Wow. What could have made you abandon the unwavering path you planned for your life and gone off trail?” Milo’s smirk was endearing as ever. He knew why.

“Well, I hope you’re happy you’ve wrecked all my plans.”

He tenderly kissed my neck. “I’m happy if you’re happy.”

“I am.” The kiss I pressed against his mouth was chaste enough, though I hoped he would know it had deeper meaning. It held all my love for him. My soul met his on our lips. “And yes, I’m sure I want to marry you today.”

Milo raised his eyebrows, playfully questioning me. “No little country church or white dress? We could postpone. Call this an engagement party.”

“I’ve waited long enough. This day is perfect.”

Turning my back into his chest, I nudged his arms higher. He hugged my ribs, and I traced the firm contours of his forearm. Together, we watched those who were dear to us enjoy themselves. Nearby in the barn, Trixie, Wil, Granny, Bonita, Maren, my parents, and several other friends and family members on my side snacked on chips and sifted through cans of soda from a giant metal tub full of ice. What family of Milo’s was close enough had made the trip, too. His parents held Truffle’s leash, letting her lead them where she wanted to go.

With the perfect weather I’d been praying for, the giant wood doors Maren had built from reclaimed barn wood were open. Outside, Preacher, Parker, Hudson, and Remi played a game of football with Asher and Ellie and a dozen other kids. Preacher had been trying to hold back his skills, not wanting to give his team the unfair advantage of a quarterback who’d played for a living for a good chunk of his adult life.

The teams lined up, and Preacher called for the ball to be snapped. Everyone scattered. When he saw a boy with a shock of red hair waving his hands that he was open, Preacher shot the football like a bullet at him. Sometimes, he couldn’t help himself.

At the last minute, Remi jumped in its path and intercepted it.

She landed, and was clobbered by kids making sure she was tagged. Laughing, she dramatically flopped on her back, panting from the athletic requirement of the play.

They had no idea what was coming, and that was part of the fun of it. The element of surprise took the pressure off Milo and I to do anything by anyone’s expectations. It focused everyone on the commitment we were about to make without all the pomp and circumstance of an overdone ceremony.

Yes, we were getting married two weeks after Milo proposed, yes, I was thrilled out of my mind, and no, I had zero regrets.

“Shall we?” I asked.

Milo kissed the crown of my head. “Say the word and I’m yours.”